World protests against apartheid wall

A global day of mass action against the Israeli apartheid wall is being held across 21 countries on the thirteenth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall

09 Nov 2003 17:57 GMT

Palestinians and Israeli's protest in the West Bank against the wall

Pro Palestinian organisations across the globe have called the day of action to draw world wide attention to the human cost of the wall that is snaking its away across the West Bank.

Demonstrators from as far as field as Argentina, Bangladesh, South Africa and America are joining forces to call for the international community to force the Israeli government to stop building the barrier.

Activists will be holding vigils and art exhibitions, some will be participating in street theatre events. Global protests will continue throughout the week.

Demonstrators will be marching in their towns and cities to highlight the impact of the 116 kilometer wall, which is three times the size of the Berlin wall.

Voices

Among those who have be demonstrating in London, is Atif Choudhary, a member of the Palestinian lead International Solidarity Movement.

Concrete blocks of the wall thatsplices Abu Dis from Jerusalem

''There are far too many people in this country who are unaware of what Israel is doing in Palestine. The Israeli government wants the world to call this wall a fence. This abuse of language is confusing people.''

Across the Atlantic, Michael Stafford will be demonstrating in Boston, USA where pro Palestinian groups will be constructing a ''foot wall'' on which photographs and text documenting the destruction of Palestine will be layed to form an exhibition.

A rally will be held later today in Copley Square where peace activists will demand that America forces the Israeli government to stop building the wall.

''It pains me greatly to know that my government is supporting Sharon in further punishing the Palestinians and stealing more of their land. We should be forcing Sharon to stop this aggression,'' Stafford told Aljazeera.net

Impact

An estimated 10% of West Bank land will be confiscated by the time the wall is completed.

The villages of Rumaneh, Tabeh and Yaneen will be put into a canton and separated from the West Bank and from Israel by two separate walls.

Palestinian boys peer through a gap in the concrete blocks

The same is true for Tulkarem which will be surrounded by walls with additional barriers on its western side near the Green Line and surrounded by trenches on the West Bank side.

An estimated 100,000 olive trees and 50,000 fruit trees have been removed along the first 70 miles of the wall according to Palestinian environment groups.

Construction of the wall began in June 2002, near the village of Salem, west of Jenin. The wall is expected to be completed by the end of 2005.